Answer Book question

What should stay in cash even if I am investing?

Three to six months of household expenses, any money you will spend in the next 12–24 months, and. for a remittance-dependent or self-employed household. more like nine to twelve months. That cash sits in a savings account, sweep-in FD or liquid fund. Everything else can be invested according to horizon.

By Kerala Rising · ·

Short answer

Three to six months of household expenses, any money you will spend in the next 12–24 months, and. for a remittance-dependent or self-employed household. more like nine to twelve months. That cash sits in a savings account, sweep-in FD or liquid fund. Everything else can be invested according to horizon.

Real life

A self-employed contractor in Kollam invests aggressively and keeps one month of expenses in cash. A client delays payment by four months. He redeems equity funds during a downturn to pay salaries. The investment plan was fine; the cash buffer was not.

What this means

The reserve is what lets the investments do their job, because it means you never have to sell them at a bad time. It is not a return-seeking asset; its return is the losses it prevents.

What to check

Monthly expenses including EMIs Income stability Upcoming large spends Where the reserve is held and how fast it can be accessed

What people often miss

Treating a credit card limit as an emergency fund.

The Kerala / NRI angle

Gulf-remittance households: the reserve should cover a job loss abroad and a return journey. Think twelve months.

An example

Expenses ₹40,000/month, self-employed → reserve ₹3.6–4.8 lakh in a liquid fund and sweep-in FD.

When this may not be the right answer

A person with a government pension and no dependants can hold a smaller reserve.

What to do next

Compute the number Fund it before increasing investments Replenish it after every use

Related questions

I have ₹1 lakh sitting in savings. Should I invest it? What is a liquid fund? How much emergency cash should a retiree keep?

Related Kerala Rising help

Kerala Rising Money · Family support

Sources and what to verify

SEBI investor education material · AMFI · RBI guidance on deposits · Kerala Rising is not a SEBI-registered investment adviser; product selection is for a registered adviser Rates, limits and whether you may qualify change. Confirm with the official source. Ask Kerala Rising: Tell us the amount, where it is now, and what it is for. We will help you frame the question before you speak to a registered adviser. and tell you what to ask them. WhatsApp +1 443 595 9000 · keralarising.com PART 4

Before you act

This page is general orientation, not personal insurance, investment, medical, legal, lending, tax, or professional advice. Rules, rates, benefits, and claim or application decisions can change. Confirm the current position with the named official source and use a licensed or qualified professional where your situation requires one. Kerala Rising does not decide whether you may qualify, approve claims, or promise an outcome.